Chennai

The Indisputable Charm of Chennai

Chennai is one of India’s great must-see cities—in fact, it’s usually listed among the top places to visit in Asia. A center for Tamil culture, the city also called Madras boasts some of India’s most powerful corporations and cultural traditions, as well as some of its most beautiful sights.

Chennai is stocked with some astounding tourist spots, not least being ancient town of Mahabalipuram and the Arignar Anna Park. The former is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while the latter is among the biggest parks of its type on the globe. There are natural attractions too, such as those on the Bay of Bengal. One of them (Marina) is also ranked 11th in the list of longest natural beaches in the world.

Chennai’s thriving economy and large population also translate to it being capable of offering the sorts of amusements that would appeal to urbanites. There are theme parks all over the place, including the MGM Park. Visitors will never run out of the best in modern amenities and attractions either, what with the glut of malls and five-/four-star hotels in the city. But all this does not manage to take away Chennai’s greenery, which is best seen within the city’s own national park. Guindy National Park actually fits within Chennai and offers a prime, convenient opportunity for locals and tourists alike to enjoy the relaxing sight of forest and fauna this near the urban jungle.

And finally, there is Kollywood, the Tamil counterpart of Bollywood. Films made in Chennai are bound for theaters as far away as Japan and Singapore: some have even made their way to Europe and the US. If for nothing else, those passing through Tamil Nadu should make a detour to Chennai for a quick sampler of Kollywood—and all the unforgettable flavor this place can offer.

Everyone has a most cherished childhood memory of visiting the zoo – watching in wonder as the huge elephants eat hay, being amazed by the tall giraffes, wondering how the weather is up there, avoiding the monkey’s spit as they swing inside their cages with mouths full of water, feeling the thrill and danger as the lion stares back at you from the other side of the enclosure. Who hasn’t at one time or another felt all these in their young life? Visitors will then definitely feel young again when visiting Chennai’s wonderful Vandalur Zoo.

The Vandalur Zoo

Visiting zoological parks always bring out a sense of wonder, amazement, thrill and excitement in all of us. Not just for children, zoos have the ability to make adults feel like young boys and girls once more. …

Together with Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky founded the Theosophical Society in New York on November 17, 1875. A group of students belonging to any religion are united to draw people together in the common search for and aspiration of Truth. It is the society’s goal to form a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity regardless of race, sex, and color. They also aim to study the laws of nature, religion, philosophy and science.

Theosophical Society Garden

In 1882, the International Headquarters also known as ‘Adyar’ moved to Adyar, Madras, presently known as Chennai, India. The …

Chennai, considered as the cultural capital of India, is home to the National Art Gallery. The National Art Gallery is an architectural Mughal inspired masterpiece built in sandstone and is considered as one of the finest Indo-sarcenic structures in India. This pink and motif adorned building was built in 1907 by T. Namberumal Chetty based on Henry Irwin’s theme. Standing proud in the sprawling lush greenery, the art gallery seemingly looks like an Art beacon.

National Art Gallery of Chennai

Originally known as the Victoria Memorial Hall, the gallery is an integral part of the 16.25 acre Government Museum Complex in Pantheon Road. Although the complex boasts of other interesting buildings, the Gallery draws a major attraction to the visiting public …

Forty kilometers south of Chennai on the East Coast Road on the way to Mahabalipuram is a fishing village called Covelong. Covelong is found in Tamil Nadu where the nearest city is Chennai and it is separated from the mainland by the canal that runs from Chennai all the way to Mahabalipuram.

Covelong Beach, Chennai, India

Also known as Kovalam or Cobelon, Covelong is a port town that was urbanized by the Nawab of Carnatic, Saadat Ali (Muhammad Sa’id Sa’adatullah Khan II) who ruled Carnatic, an area that includes the present day Chennai, from 1742 until his death in 1744. When …

Valluvar Kottam is a very well-known monument in Chennai that was erected in honor of the classical Tamil philosopher, scholar and poet, Thiruvalluvar. Aside from these, Thiruvalluvar was also a saint who influenced the way of life of numerous Indians by setting them on the path to righteousness. Believed to have lived during the 1st century B.C., Thiruvalluvar was originally a weaver. It is assumed that he was born in Mylapore, part of the city of Madras, known today as Chennai.

Amazing Valluvar Kottam Temple

Thiruvalluvar wrote his renowned epic Thirukkural, which is one of the highest-valued ancient literary works written in the Tamil language. Although it was written 2,000 years ago, the Thirukkural is regarded as a common article of faith, serving as a guidebook …

Kodambakkam is a residential neighborhood in Chennai known as the center of the Tamil film industry and fondly called by locals as Kollywood. It is located in the western part of Chennai and surrounded by the neighborhoods of Nungambakkam to the east, Vadapalani to the west, West Mambalam and T. Nagar to the south, and K.K. Nagar and Ashok Nagar to the southeast. It is eight kilometers away from Fort St. George.

Kodambakkam also called by locals as Kollywood

The foundation of the Kodambakkam district has spanned around two thousand years of history. One of the oldest temples, the …